The costs to prepare and file a non-provisional utility patent application are substantial and are reported in the AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2007.For example, the preparation and filing of an original application of minimal complexity (10 page specification, 10 claims) on average by a firm having myfirm’s size is $8,548.00. Similar costs exist for relatively complex biotechnology/chemical cases ($15,398.00), relatively complex mechanical cases ($11,482.00) and relatively complex electrical/computer cases ($13,684). The average cost for filing an Amendment in a case of minimal complexity is $2,244.00, in a relatively complex biotechnology/chemical case is ($4,448.00), in a relatively complex electrical/computer case is ($3,910.00) and in a relatively complexmechanical case is ($3,506.00). (Pages I-78, I-79 and I-80 of the Survey).The government fees related to such filings are the same (unless the Applicantis a small entity) -- $1,030.00. The cost for filing an RCE is $810.00 plus aservice charge, which in the case of my firm, is $350.00. The cost for filingof a continuation application is $1,030.00 plus a service charge, which inthe case of my firm is $585.00.

"Those numbers shock me," comments Stephen Nipper at the Invent Blog. "I guess that is the disadvantage (to me) of practicing (1) in a small firm and (2) in Boise, Idaho."